MORE DELAY FOR TRUMP

PROJECT: PUBLIC INQUIRY

WON'T BE HELD

UNTIL OCTOBER

FROM TODAY'S PRESS & JOURNAL
By CAMERON BROOKS
Donald Trump will have to wait until October for a decision on his controversial £1b illiaon golf resort plans.
The Scottish Government announced yesterday that the issue will be decided by a public local inquiry.
Finance Secretary John Swinney claimed the move will give all parties for and against the proposals for the Menie Eastate (pictured right) near Balmedie in Aberdeenshire the opportunity to state their case.
But the US tycoon last night expressed surprised over the inquiry and warned: "Nobody is going to invest in Scotland."
Mr Trump also revealed he know of companies that had already been put off by the controversy.
Announcing his decision, Mr Swinning said: "This application raises issues of imiportance that required consideration at a national level. Given the nature of this major and controversial application and the considerable public interest, it is important that the process to examine the issues is as efficient, transparent and inclusive as possible."
The Scottish Government will now appoint a Reporter to lead the inquiry. It will look at issues highlighted by Aberdeenshire Council which rejected the plans on November 29. They include the scheme's scale and the impact on sand dunes in a site of special scientific interest.
Mr Swinning has asked the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals to convene an early meeting of all parties involved to discuss a time frame.
"I am determined that there should be no unnecessary delay in considering this application and will make my decision within 28 days of receiving the DPEA report," he said.
Mr Trump said: "I love the idea of a public hearing but what is the prupose? They already had hearings. I have one of the most popular developments in Scotland and yet we can't seem to get it approved. It's an amazing phenomenon.
"The sad part is it is telling people not to invest in Scotland. Nobody is going to invest in Scotland . If you have such a popular project and it still goes through years of stuff, it is ridiculous."
He criticised the planning process, saying: "It is too long a process. The process is too long and too unwieldy. "
Aberdeen Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said he was "astonished" by the inquiry decision. "If ministers knew there had to be an inquiry, they should have announced it in December," he added.
"The whole point of calling it in was to save time and to make sure that the developer did not just walk away.
Mr Trump's right-hand man, George Sorial, said he hoped the meeting would be held very soon as for every day there was inactiviy at the Menie Estate, the organisation was losing money.
"Time and delay are real issues for us but there has been an overwhelming number of phone calls, letters and E-mails and personal visits from Aberdonians and Scots in general," he added.
"That has had a trmendous impact on our decision to really stick it out and fight for what Mr Trump is really passionate about and believes in."